Robbie Ray hurt as Arizona Diamondbacks fall to Washington Nationals

Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray suffered a right oblique injury during the second inning of Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Nick Piecoro, azcentral sports

Apr 29, 2018: Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray (38) meets with the trainer prior to being removed from a game against the Washington Nationals with an apparent injury during the second inning at Nationals Park.(Photo: Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports)

WASHINGTON – Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray gingerly put on his socks and shoes in front of his locker on Sunday. His every movement seemed to test the limits of the injury he sustained earlier in the afternoon.

In the second inning of the Diamondbacks’ 3-1 loss to the Washington Nationals, Ray threw a pitch to Matt Wieters, then motioned toward the visitors’ dugout. Moments later, he walked off the field with a trainer at his side.

Ray has a strained right oblique. He’ll undergo an MRI exam on Monday, manager Torey Lovullo said, and undoubtedly is heading for the disabled list. The question is for how long.

Two years ago, right-hander Zack Greinke suffered a strained oblique on the opposite side of his pitching arm. That injury was initially viewed as minor, but it lingered and wound up costing Greinke six weeks.

Ray said he has never had an oblique issue. He can’t guess how long he might be out. And he wasn’t sure what to read into based on how he felt in the hours immediately after the injury.

“Obviously, it’s sore,” he said. “It’s still the day that it happened. We’ll see where it’s at tomorrow, see how it feels. But it’s definitely sore.”

That the Diamondbacks have suffered an injury is not unusual. Ray will be the fifth player who was on -- or expected to be on -- their Opening Day roster to land on the disabled list. But he might be their most significant.

Last season, Ray was one of the more dominant pitchers in the National League, and he was a key piece in the Diamondbacks’ push for a wild card spot. He started slowly this season but had showed signs on this road trip of perhaps returning to form. That’s part of what made the injury so much more frustrating for him.

“I know what I did to get to this point and the stuff that I worked on in my last bullpen session and during today’s game. Mechanics-wise, it’s kind of just ingrained in there, so whenever I can get back I think I’ll just pick up where I left off.”

The Diamondbacks seem to have barely felt the other injuries. Even after Sunday’s loss, they own a 19-8 record, tied for the best mark in club history after 27 games. They’ll hope Ray’s absence can be overcome as easily, but it remains to be seen if it can be.

The club already has lost one starter, right-hander Taijuan Walker, who underwent Tommy John surgery last week and is done for the year. They replaced him with Matt Koch, who has thrown well in two starts. The next starter up could be right-hander Braden Shipley, although he has been hit hard in his past two starts with Triple-A Reno.

“You’re thinking about him and praying for him to have a speedy recovery,” center fielder A.J. Pollock said. “But the game doesn’t stop. We’ve got to figure out a way to keep winning games like we have been.”

In relief of Ray, left-hander T.J. McFarland gave up three runs in his first inning-plus of work, but settled in and threw 4 2/3 innings on 77 pitches, saving the rest of the bullpen from being overly taxed.

But the offense managed little against Nationals lefty Gio Gonzalez and went hitless in eight at-bats on the day with runners in scoring position.

Ray said the injury happened on his final pitch of the afternoon, his first to Wieters with one out in the second inning. Midway through his delivery, just before he let the ball go, he said he “felt my side grab.” He said he was fidgety during the previous at-bat because his lower back felt a little stiff. He doubted the two were related.

“Hopefully,” he said, “it’s not too long that I’m out and I can get back to help this team win.”

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray (38) pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Washington. Andrew Harnik/AP

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Washington. Andrew Harnik/AP

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Patrick Corbin delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper (34) talks with home plate umpire Nic Lentz, right, after he was called out on strikes during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper stretches on-deck during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Washington Nationals center fielder Andrew Stevenson dives to catch a line drive by Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta for an out during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Washington Nationals center fielder Andrew Stevenson slides on the grass after catching a line drive by Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta for an out during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Washington Nationals' Howie Kendrick (12) celebrates his two-run home run with Bryce Harper during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley delivers during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg delivers during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, AP